Saturday, Russian-installed authorities ordered all residents of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson to evacuate “immediately” in anticipation of an expected counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces to retake the occupied area.
In a Telegram message, the regional pro-Kremlin administration urged citizens to cross the Dnieper River by boat in order to go deeper into Russian-held territory, citing a stressful frontline situation, the prospect of shelling, and alleged “terror acts” by Kiev.
Kherson has been under Russian control since the early days of the February invasion. The city is the seat of the same-named region, one of four illegally acquired by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.
The region’s Kremlin-backed authorities had already announced intentions to relocate all Russian-appointed officials and up to 60,000 inhabitants across the river in what local leader Volodymyr Saldo termed a “planned, methodical displacement.”
Officials from Ukraine have advised locals to resist attempts to remove them, with one local official suggesting that Moscow intended to kidnap and use citizens as human shields.
Putin signed a proclamation on Wednesday declaring Kherson and three other southern and eastern Ukrainian areas as Russian territory in violation of international law.
Hundreds of thousands of people in central and western Ukraine awoke to power shortages and intermittent bursts of gunfire on Saturday, as Ukrainian air defense attempted to shoot down incoming drones and missiles. Overnight, Russia unleashed a volley of missiles, which Ukraine’s air force described as a “massive missile attack” that targeted “essential infrastructure.”
Officials in Ukraine stated that at least six districts, including the capital Kyiv, were attacked.
As the war nears its eighth month, Russia has expanded its attacks on power plants, water delivery networks, and other vital infrastructure around the country, the latest phase of the conflict.